“If there’s anything I know, it’s that I love a sandwich. Especially one with hot, gooey, melty, cheese.” When I was originally looking at the Plated menus (the first time), there was one recipe that stuck out to me: Cheesy Sweet Onion Panini with Truffle Fries. I am a sucker for cheese. I am a sucker for…

“At this point I should tell you that we actually call this ‘Crack N’ Cheese’ because it is so good we eat nothing else except for this until it is gone.” I have a confession to make. I don’t like mac and cheese. I know. It’s blasphemous. I like pasta. I like nacho cheese. I like…

“Thus began the most traumatizing experience I’ve ever had in a kitchen. Gather round, all, and hear the harrowing tale of #ChickenParmGate.” You’re probably thinking I got that title wrong. I didn’t. I meant that. The World’s Worst Chicken Parmesan. This is the story of how one of my favorite recipes in the world got butchered, battered, broken….

“Fresh veggies! Sweet and salty! All the best flavors of spring! It’s a great way to start off the season!” Back when Foots and I decided we were going to cast away our old lives of eating take-out food and instant ramen every night and start cooking out own food, we wanted to find a…

“Honestly, if I got this in a restaurant for $12, I would order it again and again and again. If you are looking for a fish recipe, this one won’t fail you.” Two weeks ago, I got a free Plated box from my friend Christine and I made three | different | recipes with varying…

“Spicy, sweet, protein packed, plenty of textures. It’s absolutely a must try.” I’ve been having some fun with the Plated meals and learning a lot about their process – as well as my own tastes and inspirations as a cook (and blooming chef!). I’m learning a lot about textures, flavors, seasoning, spice, and the untold importance of appropriate side…

“So what do you do with 6 cups of leftover lettuce? How about coleslaw?” I’m a northern girl. Grew up in those frozen lands like Maine and New Hampshire – where cabbage doesn’t grow. But since moving to the South, I have grown to appreciate a good ‘slaw. The best part about coleslaw is that everyone…

“Serve immediately. Don’t bother with a knife and fork. Bite right into that beautiful, crispy base. Enjoy immensely.” Day Three of our Plated Trial Journey and I’m starting to get the hang of this. I know what I like and I know what I don’t like and I’m starting to trust myself a little more – and Plated…

“The idea of ‘poaching’ the eggs within the food itself is so interesting, I will definitely be trying this again and again.” Day Two of our Plated Trial Journey had us trying out something I’ve never had before: Shakshuka. According to Wikipedia, Shakshuka [شكشوكة‎‎] “is a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes…

“Salmon? Tacos? Teriyaki? What’s there to NOT like?” I used to live in Washington, D.C. – “the big city” – and in the city it can be very hard to cook every night. Whether you’re getting home at 9 p.m. or you can’t bring home enough fresh vegetables on the metro, sometimes you’re just not…

“Sometimes simple really is best. We couldn’t be happier to have perfected this chili.” I am a huge proponent of a meat-conscious lifestyle. So at home, I usually cook pescatarian or vegetarian. The problem is making chili vegetarian – especially for people who are used to eating meat chili – is two fold. (1) It’s gotta be…

“A few months ago – during a particular post-New Years ‘carb free’ resolution – I suggested instead of pasta, we make Spaghetti Squash. We now eat it at least once a month.” I am constantly evaluating what I eat. Mostly because I’m the kind of person who could eat either a head of broccoli or…